Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup, which he uses to predict the future? What a wicked thing you have done!’”
Parallel translations
- WEB Isn’t this that from which my lord drinks, and by which he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.’”
- KJV Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
- BSB Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’”
- NKJV Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”
- NASB Is this not that from which my lord drinks, and which he indeed uses for divination? You have done wrong in doing this!’ ”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The steward is to single out the missing silver cup, by which the lord supposedly divines. The detail heightens the apparent gravity of the theft.
Overview
The cup is described as one used for divination, a practice associated with Egyptian rulers, lending weight to the charge against the brothers. Whether Joseph actually practiced divination or merely allowed the reputation as part of his disguise is debated among faithful interpreters; the narrative neither commends nor condemns it here. What is clear is that the cup serves Joseph's design to test his brothers and bring the family to repentance and reunion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- 2 Kgs 21:6He made his son to pass through the fire, practiced sorcery, used enchantments, and dealt with those who had familiar spirits, and with wizards. He did much evil in Yahweh’s sight, to provoke him to anger.
- Gen 30:27Laban said to him, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, stay here, for I have divined that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake.”
- Lev 19:26“‘You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it. You shall not use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
- Deut 18:10–14There shall not be found with you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices sorcery, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer,
- Gen 44:15Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Don’t you know that such a man as I can indeed divine?”
- 1 Kgs 20:33Now the men observed diligently, and hurried to take this phrase; and they said, “Your brother Ben Hadad.” Then he said, “Go, bring him.” Then Ben Hadad came out to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 44:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.